Safety in danger at WTO

Crucial health and environmental safeguards, established over many years, could be scrapped at world trade negotiations next week.

More than 70 countries are trying to use World Trade Organisation talks to dismantle legislation that encourages, among other things, fuel efficiency in cars and home appliances.

Countries including the US, Japan, Korea and Bulgaria have challenged the rules as part of the current WTO round.

Rules affected include labelling of food and hazardous chemicals, and restrictions on forestry exports.

The US wants to scrap vehicle tax incentives to encourage motorists to drive smaller vehicles; Korea wants to end labelling of energy-efficient electrical goods.

Japan wants to scrap EU legislation requiring manufacturers to list substances' physicochemical and toxic properties. Hard-won European laws on recycling electronic goods, cars and packaging are also at risk.

Friends of the Earth has collated the 72 challenges in a report published this week. The challenges form part of so-called Non-Agricultural Access negotiations.

Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said: 'We've been hearing for years of the potential for world trade agreements to undermine environmental and regulatory control, and now governments are moving in. They are poised to roll back decades of environmental gains through agreements that could unleash pollution, devastate forests and plunder fisheries.'